A series of dazzling performances in the Cape Cod League last summer put Logan Gilbert on Scott Hunter’s radar.

But it was the steadfast needling of an area scout and his cross-checker that kept Gilbert in the Mariners’ crosshairs, even when his draft stock appeared to dip last month.

Gilbert, Stetson University’s resident flamethrower, suffered through a stretch of dead-arm syndrome, not an uncommon malady – and not a serious one – that pitchers occasionally deal with.

It was during that period, Hunter admitted, that Gilbert might have slipped a bit off his radar. After all, the Mariners’ director of amateur scouting had several other players he was considering with the 14th overall pick.

“He had about a month period where people started getting off him … even myself,” Hunter said Monday.

The Mariners weren’t off Gilbert for long.

Thanks to the imploring of area scout Rob Mummau and southeast cross-checker Jesse...